You are here: Home >> Time Management

You Must Remain Focused On Your Journey to Greatness

November 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Share

You Must Remain Focused On Your Journey to Greatness

by Frederika Angus

As one with a spirit of an entrepreneur, great ideas and creativity flow from you easily. In any given day, you can think of 3 new product ideas, 2 service offerings, and business expansion opportunity. Being able think of and become the solution for your ideal clients’ problems is a gift!

But you’re feeling overwhelmed and all of the ideas swirling in your head do not at all feel like a gift. It’s more like a hinderance to getting anything done.

Never fear. It isn’t your ability to create, follow-through or mental capacity that is the problem. It’s your focus!

I am a recovering super multi-tasker. I use to believe if I could just get as many things started as possible, I’d be more efficient, and by the end I would have accomplished more. My faulty way of thinking, left me with half done documents, emails, organization projects and even laundry! My inability to focus left me more overwhelmed and stressed at the end of the day. I couldn’t clearly see what I had accomplished when it came to check things off the to-do list. I had started 5 things and finished none!

Living life fully depends upon our ability to observe carefully, give attention where it’s needed, and concentrate on ONE task at a time.

Here are some strategies I find helpful to upgrade your ability to focus.

1. Procrastinate first – Give yourself 5-10 minutes of distraction before you begin a task. Our minds like to wander. Set a timer and check your social media accounts, text a friend, doodle in a notebook. When you clear your mind first, it becomes easier to focus later.

2. Live by a to-do list – Every time you think of something new you need to read, research, or invent, WRITE IT DOWN instead of switching gears from your current focus. Make a list every day of what you must complete by the end of the day. All the new to-dos that are not urgent can wait.

3. Take care of your mind and body – Burning the candle at both ends does not help you get more done. Sufficient sleep can positively impact your attitude toward the tasks that you have to complete. In addition to that, your brain needs time to reboot and recharge. It will help your memory and your ability to concentrate. Exercise and a well-balanced diet also increase healthy brain activity and your focus.

4. Remove the distractions –  When you have something important or difficult that must be completed, close down the email, turn off the cell phone, shut off the social media notifications or instant messaging tool, put a sign on the door and get to work. I have a system where I check my email only 2-3 times a day in order to increase my productivity.

Implementing even just one of these strategies can improve your ability to get more done and feel less overwhelmed.

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Time Management Tagged With: , , , , ,

Going from Angst to Action And Why You Must Develop Habits NOW That Will Allievate Your Anxiousness

November 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Share

Going from Angst to Action And Why You Must Develop Habits NOW That Will Allievate Your Anxiousness

by Frederika Angus

The phone is ringing, three new emails have come in, there is a pile of mail that you have yet to go through, it’s already 6PM and you haven’t even gone to the grocery store to begin preparing dinner. The list of things that must be done never gets shorter and somehow the time you have to accomplish everything never gets any longer. You find yourself behind the eight ball again with deadlines looming over you and the desire to just go to bed or veg out on the couch and watch movies as if that will make all the work go away.

Frantically you look around and ask, “Where is the easy button that makes getting things done simple on TV?”

Then you think to yourself, perhaps if you had a different day planner system, or used your email calendar to schedule everything, this wouldn’t keep happening. Maybe if you read another book on effective time management.

You don’t need another book on how to stop procrastinating. You need to change your mind about the tasks you must complete. Somewhere along the way you have picked up the habits of everyone else. While waiting to the last minute may not be so bad for them, you are a business owner. Those habits have created an anxious atmosphere in your life and in your business. You are losing sleep, customers, and credibility in the marketplace because of it.

“The successful person is the average person with laser-like focus.” ~Bruce Lee

It is easy to be overwhelmed from managing a business, especially from home, and household activities IF you have not developed the habits of a focused successful business owner.

Many people allow a lot of time to pass without taking any useful steps because they cannot imagine what to do next. When looking at the vision for your business, there are always many smaller pieces that have to be put in place to bring it all together. Unfortunately, because you are overwhelmed the mere thought of doing the smaller tasks, it keeps you from doing anything.

All business owners are busy. The ones that breakthrough and become very successful are those who are committed to being focused and understand the value of their time. You see time management is not about HOW you manage time. There are any number of tools, both paper and electronic that can help you keep a schedule of things to do. Time management is about how you manage yourself so that you use your time more effectively.

I have had the honor to led millions of dollars in project initiatives for companies. During this time I’ve learned that the key difference between the best program and project managers was their ability to manage their time and manage the time of those on their team. They are skilled at not only knowing what to do, but when to do it and who should do it. By understanding time management, their projects always came in on time and usually under budget leaving all the business partners happy and excited to move them to the next bundle of work.

The techniques are the same for entrepreneurs. Getting in the habit of knowing what to do, when it should be done and who the best person is to complete the task will yield great results for your business. Doing so will alleviate your anxiousness every time a task comes through your inbox or client needs you. You will be able to rest easy at night knowing that you are equipped with habits that will lead to your success. Being successful is after all why you went into business!

For all those who are overwhelmed with too many things to do, too little time to do them, and a general sense of unease that something important is being missed, I am offering a FREE class on keys to move you further in your business with time management.

It’s time to get serious. Register here NOW!

Talk to you soon

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Time Management Tagged With: , , , ,

Tomorrow Is Not a Guarantee, So What Are You Waiting On?

November 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Share

Tomorrow Is Not a Guarantee, So What Are You Waiting On?

by Frederika Angus

As a coach and advisor to many people in business, I tend to hear many excuses. Some of my “favorites” include, “I’ll get to it soon,” or “I do not have enough hours in the day to get it done.” Or maybe you’ve used this one, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

I believe that when they are said, people have the best intentions. They really do believe that they will do it soon, or next week. But then this funny thing called life happens. What you intended to complete in January is still left undone nearly a year later. Besides the holidays are almost here again, why take down the Christmas tree now?

There are others, though, who have made putting off what they can do today until tomorrow a life and time management strategy. Many have become quite skilled in the fine art of procrastination. Are you one of them?

Have you been telling yourself that you will look up the process for obtaining a business license, tomorrow?

Maybe you said once you had more time you would be ready to start that new business?

Perhaps you just focus your time on activities(Facebook anyone?) that don’t move you any further into you living the life you have dreamed of living.

Sometimes we are more willing to give ourselves a way out of doing what we need to do than we are to hold ourselves accountable to the dreams inside of us. Before you know it, the big idea, the great opportunity, that makes are hearts leap everytime we think of it, begins to get smaller and smaller and smaller the more we put it off. Now comes the voice that tells you that it wasn’t that big of a deal and it is better off that you didn’t do it anyway.

I learned that one of my dear friends suddenly passed away in her sleep. She leaves behind three young children who will now have to navigate this world without the love and care that mothers provide.

While my heart is heavy with this loss, I have an obligation to tell you, tomorrow is not promised to any of us. The things that you have been procrastinating about doing may never be achieved because of your delay. You can not expect to successfully start or grow your business living with a mindset believing that it is ok to wait.

It is time to make a decision about your life and your business and immediately take action!

The great part about being alive is in the living. You still have time TODAY to start right where you are.

If your biggest pain point to entrepreneurship and being a business owner is “how do I find the time to do all the is required,” I am creating your solution.

On Monday, November 21st at 7:00 pm ET and 4:00 PST I am hosting a no-cost, no obligation Tele-class for an hour. I will be sharing the 5 keys on time management fundamentals for business owners. I am serious about your goals and your life. This may be the catalyst you need to push you into the greatest success of your life.

REGISTER NOW. It’s absolutely free!

It’s time to take your vision to the next level!

Talk to you soon.

 

 

Filed Under: Entrepreneurship, Time Management Tagged With: , ,

Important vs Urgent: Time Management Tips To Keep You Effective and Efficient

September 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Share

Important vs Urgent: Time Management Tips To Keep You Effective and Efficient

by Frederika Angus

 

Raise your hand if 1440 minutes doesn't seem to be enough time in a day to get all your tasks accomplished. Do you have friends, spouses or colleagues that seem to be more productive and produce bigger results? After years of business management consulting and project management, I've been able to develop surefire methods that consistently allow me to work effectively and efficiently. I'll let you in on the secret. Lean in close….

Effective people utilize the bulk of their time focused on the important over the urgent.

We have all had days were we have been busy with presentations, going to the gym, meetings, phone calls, errands, doctors appointments, social events and chores. Feeling exhausted from all the activity of the day, we fall into bed and marvel at how much work is still left to been done and how little has actually been crossed off the to-do list. Our bodies are weary and we look over at the alarm clock, wishing for more time in the day to get it all done, knowing 5:30 am will be soon approaching for us to start the grueling process again.

Tip #1 – By learning the difference between which tasks are important over what is urgent, you can be more effective and efficient while alleviating stress and anxiety over the things you have yet to accomplish.

  •  Important  activities produce an outcome that leads you and your business to the achievement of goals.
  • Urgent activities are usually reactive over being proactive and demand immediate attention.

In other words, important things are valuable; urgent things simply have a looming deadline. Urgent things are not necessarily important, nor do important tasks have to be urgent.

Tip #2 – Maintain a master to-do list and prioritize each task based on it's level of importance and urgency. Having a written list is a business strategy people have used for years. Adding a column to mark priority will keep the most critical items to be accomplished from becoming lost.

Tip #3 – Review your task list each evening and select 3 important activities for the following day. We often set ourselves up to fail by producing daily agenda's that are jam packed. By primarily focusing on the 3 must-dos, we leave room for any urgent needs that may arise and space for flexibility.

Tip #4 – Deal with important things before they become urgent. This can reduce the number of urgent items added to your to-do list. This strategy will reduce unnecessary, last minute stressors.

Tip #5 – Check and respond to email in between the transition of completing one task and starting another. Constant immediate response to emails as they arrive slows progress. Instant access to emails via our smartphones has become a gift and a curse. Don't allow instant communication to steal your productivity.

Tip #6 – Learn to say NO to demands on your time that don't benefit you or your goals or align with your core mission statement. Too often we find ourselves saying 'Yes' to help out other people when in reality we don't have the capacity to take on more. If the activity is not important to your development, kindly decline.

If you'd like more strategies on how you can be effective at prioritizing your activities, be sure to follow me now on Facebook and Twitter.

Filed Under: Mindset, Time Management Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,